Main Entry:

¹sniff

Pronunciation:

\ˈsnif\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English

Date:

14th century

intransitive verb 1 : to draw air audibly up the nose especially for smelling <sniffed at the flowers> 2 : to show or express disdain or scorn 3 : snoop, nose <sniffed around for clues> transitive verb 1 : to smell or take by inhalation through the nose 2 : to utter contemptuously 3 : to recognize or detect by or as if by smelling <sniff out trouble>